Published Date : 15/06/2025
Artificial intelligence-generated pet dramas are quickly becoming a viral sensation on short video platforms, drawing in millions of viewers with their emotional storylines and quirky characters.
One such hit features a ginger cat who starts out poor and is mocked by a white cat and her wealthy dog boyfriend. The 59-second video then shows the cat working as a construction worker and window cleaner, rising above his circumstances to become rich, ultimately stunning those who laughed at him. The video went viral in April and has since racked up nearly 150 million views.
AI Creators Cash In on Emotional Animal Dramas
The creator behind this viral content is a Chinese man known online as Ansheng, reported the South China Morning Post. He runs several AI-powered cat drama accounts, two of which have over a million followers, and several others with more than 500,000 each. The success of these clips has translated into income. He shared, “I could make between 1,200 and 2,000 yuan (US$170 and US$280) from one video with more than 10 million views,” estimating a monthly income of around 20,000 yuan (US$3,000).
Ansheng began posting on international platforms after realizing that his earnings were limited on local apps. “On a mainland platform I only made 50 yuan for a video with 8 million views, so I switched to overseas platforms for financial reasons,” he said.
Producing the videos is both fast and cost-effective. Ansheng revealed that he spends less than 50 yuan a month by using free AI tools and churns out two to three videos daily. He doesn’t even write original scripts, choosing instead to adapt existing ones. In one of his most watched videos, which has 16 million views, the same script used for the ginger cat is repurposed—this time with Disney’s Elsa as the lead, while the mocking characters take the form of Snow White and Wonder Woman.
Meanwhile, similar AI-generated content is taking off on mainland Chinese platforms, where creators are blending animal characters with traditional mini-drama tropes. One popular style features a Bichon Frise dog playing a poor girl who discovers she’s a royal princess. She’s ridiculed at the palace until a prince arrives and falls in love with her alone.
These melodramatic plots have gained a devoted audience, thanks to their emotional arcs and feel-good endings. The content is also being cleverly used to advertise both pet and human products—ranging from dog shampoo to pasta sauce. Latang, the creator of a dog drama channel, said the personified pet characters make it easier to advertise items meant for humans. Ansheng echoed this sentiment, adding, “People do not sympathise with cats or dogs, but the emotions they carry.”
Q: What are AI-generated pet dramas?
A: AI-generated pet dramas are short video clips created using artificial intelligence that feature pet characters in emotional and often melodramatic storylines. These videos are designed to be engaging and viral, often combining elements of storytelling, humor, and marketing.
Q: How do creators make money from these videos?
A: Creators earn money through views and ad revenue on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Some creators also use the videos to promote products, both for pets and humans, which can generate additional income through sponsorships and affiliate marketing.
Q: Who is Ansheng and what is his success story?
A: Ansheng is a Chinese creator known for his AI-generated pet drama videos. He runs several popular AI-powered cat drama accounts and has earned significant income from these videos, with some earning him between 1,200 and 2,000 yuan per video with over 10 million views.
Q: How are these videos produced?
A: The videos are produced using free AI tools, which allows creators to churn out two to three videos daily. Ansheng, for example, spends less than 50 yuan a month on production and often uses existing scripts, adapting them to fit the pet characters.
Q: Why are these videos so popular?
A: These videos are popular because they combine emotional storylines with relatable and often humorous pet characters. The feel-good endings and melodramatic plots resonate with viewers, making the content highly engaging and shareable.